hearted girl

cherishment

2012-05-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I close my eyes and dream about the talents and abilities I wish I had it ends up transporting me into an artist's studio. A place filled with well-worn wooden paint splattered floors, sunlight streaming through white floaty shears and tinkling sounds from paint brushes twirling around in water jars that sparkle with washed away notions. Artists from all walks of life inspire me.

One such person I recently had the serendipitous chance to "meet" through email is Perry Holmes; he's self-taught and produces fluid watercolor compositions that evoke undeniable beauty through a distinctly stylized view of form.

Perry wrote into Eckhart Teachings to introduce himself and to share a portrait he'd painted of Eckhart. Let me tell you, his note stood out to me in such a way and when I opened the photo to see his work I about gasped and shared it with the entire team straight away. Upon writing back and forth with Perry he ended up sending along the actual piece and I made sure it got to Eckhart personally. Perry's kindness extended to include both Natalie (my wonderful co-worker!) and me too when he sent a print for each of us. We couldn't have been more thrilled!

So some of you might have gathered that I'm no longer working at ETTV, as mentioned on the "about" page, but my time there does live on in my spirit. The friends I made and moment to moment blessings I was a part of are something I'm eternally grateful for. Having this remembrance of my time there is also something I cherish deeply. Thanks again Perry!! ♥

just for fun

2012-05-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

I caught site of this sweet yellow bug outside our apartment and had to snap a pic for my gf Jane. It's her favorite car, in her favorite color and I think it's mine too :)

Hope everyone is having a sunny weekend!!! ♥

skippin' out

2012-05-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

There are few things in life better than a cupcake treat at the window seat of your choice with a swell fella right there beside you! am i right, or am i right?! Okay well, I'm sure there are many more things which would rescind that statement entirely but on an easy, breezy (and slightly chilly) Sunday KASA & I thought it would be the most perfect way to spend some time.

Heading out to an area not too far away called Steveston, it's a darling seaside village that boasts several prime pop-a-squats! We kinda went through the gauntlet of goodness - starting with a tasty brunch, followed by Bell's Bake Shop and then winding it all up at the infamous Rocanini Cafe for some handcrafted coffee sips.

It was my 1st time at Bell's and I just have got to say their Confetti Cupcake was beyond words ahhh-mazing! It was basically a down the hatch sort of day and one we both needed desperately as things have gone from super-busy to so slammed with stuff that we're unable to even comprehend the word "date". This was a haven-ish day spent with the boyf and we loved every second of it! Hope everyone had some swells of your own over the weekend and wishing you more of the same on this one that's about to start too! ♥

red barn

2012-05-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

There are triggers in life, triggers that bring about certain emotional states. One of those, for me, is the iconic red barn and all the symbolism that goes along with it. Thinking back to singing "Old MacDonald" in play school and long road trips with my parents where farmland held its place alongside my window seat.

Although I've always sorta been a city mouse, the countryside has held a definite appeal also. As this prose states, I do feel nostalgic whenever I pass by an old red barn and I hope there will never come a day when they cease to exist. What are the triggers that set you off on a heartwarming mind trail? ♥

ban.do eyes

2012-05-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

who knows when i first spotted a "ban.do" or if i even knew how to pronounce it (um yo, it's ban.dough) but what i can say is that my radar has, routinely, been pinging madly for each and every lovely thing they produce!!! Jen Gotch + Jamie Coulter are 2 L.A. stylists who harmoniously produce a rad array of pretty pieces for every day or a certain special moment.

i'm sure you're familiar with this delightful brand, it's been worn by many a hip/happnin' celeb and if that isn't enough you've probably spied their signature flare popping up on lots of blogs too. my fave star spotting is also one of my most beloved blog reads; the devastatingly talented, creatively colorful and just dishy Bri Emery of DESIGN LOVE FEST. she's usually tricked out in a bit of ban.do and when i saw this post featuring the sequin scarf i knew there was no looking back!

it didn't take long for my shipment to arrive and then the opening ceremony began. oh my gosh, i can't recommend another picker-upper that will touch your glittery girliness quite the same way. super crushing on their spring line right now too, it's positively charged with ear to ear grins. ♥

iphone case / sequin heart + scarf by ban.do
photo template via pugly pixel

life is a collaboration

2012-05-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

fathers and daughters, momma's and their sons, girls and boys, animals and insects....we're all movin' and shakin' the best way we know how. one of the truest things i know is that resonating passion is like the key in any ignition...it just needs to be turned on.

The way to do this isn't just by doing what you love - although that's an awesome space to be - but it's also being around those that enliven you. Through writing, through dynamic energy exchanges through love. there are many ways to get there. A place, where you aren't looking outside for the next best thing to come along and rescue you. A space where, if people really looked close enough at you, they'd probably be able to see the sparks flying right off the top of your head! Imagine this: you're hanging out in a room filled with street artists (it could be any group of interested, blazin' amazin' folks). they're talking their talk and it's full of passion about what they do. the whole aura of this room is potent with like-minded folks just digging the joy of their craft. NOW, wouldn't that be awesome to be around? YESSUH, you don't have to necessarily be inside your own passion. Anyone's will do quite nicely and sustain you for a while anyways. True story!

Believing in something changes any particular perspective for the better. I felt a paradigm shift happen when I watched this video and learned the story about a father who sets a precedence of love above all for his daughter, majorly inspiring. It is so touching and the very idea of creating a metaphorical breadcrumb trail of artwork that his little girl could see every day while walking to school is an astounding tribute to human spirit and whole love.

The beauty of this story between street artist, C215 and his adorable daughter, Nina oozes tenderness, if you can pause to take it all in I'd highly recommend you do so.

I'm revitalized with hope that my ittle bittle blog could perhaps be a venue for a similar type of expression too. This space is my means of communication with friends and readers, I'd like to come back now and express myself through many more hearted elements like this moving piece. It'll be a rhythmical sort of speed - a bit here and there but I hope you stick around for any future funmaking!! Thanks for waiting on me, xo ♥

images via Christian Guémy, better known as C215
C215 & Nina video as seen on Juxtapoz Magazine

design process

2012-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm sure some people start their design projects differently but I always tend to begin with color. Choosing a palette is the key for me to unlock the door to creativity and become a spatial activist. You heard it here folks, I love me some spatial activism and boy did I ever let this place turn into a run-down blog shack. No design updates in a really looooong time, but that's ALL CHANGED NOW!

I took a BIG cue from ModCloth's recent stylebook graphics; whoever is creating that stuff should take many victory laps - it's amazing!

Ta-da and welcome to the new and improved Hearted Girl. It's lighter, brighter and reps me way more than the last scene did. Hope you like the changes I've made, which includes the About page - it was a serious atrocity and has been polished up some.

Wishing everyone a swell Sunday! ♥

a fond farewell

2012-04-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

The time is slowly approaching...slowly for us who will miss her madly but FASTER PUSSYCAT for the one who's breaking out of V-town with a delightful burst of celebration!!! My darling friend, Alex, is leaving on a jet plane and we honestly don't know when she will be back again (seriously, how could i not use that line?!) but as send-offs go we had a hoot and holla for our beautiful pal on a special Friday evening past.

Alex's Farewell Fiesta, as Cee, our host coined it; began promptly at 7pm ..... there wasn't 1 straggler because we all wanted to get in as much time together as humanly,bloggery possible. The place was Havana, a local hot spot with loads of tasty selections including what we girls enjoyed sipping on... delicious sangrias while we toasted Alex on her new adventure! If you haven't heard yet, she's been nabbed by FASHION magazine and will be their newest, coolest intern. This, in turn (that's a total pun of course!), means she's traveling all the way to Toronto and setting up shop to begin a lifelong dream of completely stylin' swoons. Can i just say this girl was made to rock the runways; interviewing fashions elite and sharing her feedback on the latest trends, as well as spotting them before they've even reached mass internet filteration. Just as fashion never gets old, it re-creates...so does Alexandra on her road to Vogue or bust! xo ♥

the line-up: RANDA, VERONIKA, ALEX, CEE, ALICIA, ME, LEONIE

betty be good

2012-04-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

hey guys, i'm popping in today because a friend of mine has set up an online shop recently and i couldn't be more thrilled!!! Betty be Good is not only one of the cutest names around, for a "girl swoon some more" kinda store, but it's also the segway to supporting the rehabilitation of women at Deborah's Gate, The Salvation Army's safe house for women and children in Vancouver who are victimized by sex traffickers. good cause alert!

Suzanne opened her triple wdot door not very long ago and has set the shop up so beautifully. as a fellow Vancouverite i couldn't be prouder to know her goodness in the flesh but for those of you who haven't caught the news yet, please pass it on. Betty be Good is the real deal! i'm coveting the decadent druzy ring, their one piece floral and lavender Where Art Thou Juliette dress and a twist on the classic trench with a bow-tie feature in the back. not to mention the Saddle Up Sally top + Five Golden Rings for when Sean & i hit Calgary this summer during the 100th year Stampede Celebration!

as Suz says "There's a 'Betty' in every woman. She's fun, confident and a little wild! Betty Be Good was created to help women embrace their inner 'Betty'."

Liberty in Style Fashion Show & E-Boutique Grand Opening is HAPPENING ON May 2nd at Heritage Hall on Main Street in Vancouver. tickets are FREE (net proceeds donated to Fashion Hope) and girls there's going to be drinks and dessert treats!!! i'm gonna be there (and KASA too!), will you? ♥

thanks again to katrina from pugly pixel for the photo layouts + attention circle

on a different note

2012-04-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

going through it to get through it is mostly tough edged right now but turning off my autopilot and ending the coast along conditioning was the 1st crucial step for being conscious and THAT feels good!

"Somebody, I don't recall who, once said: "When you get there, there's no there there". This applies not only to location in space, but also to time: when you get to the future, you find yourself in the present moment. So the future never comes. Don't let the thought of future (or past) obscure the preciousness of the present moment."

~ Eckhart Tolle ~

love that message and don't we all need reminders along our life's path to reiterate it. well friends, i've been off the grid so to speak and have really missed the online community a lot. i've touched down several times but for the most part i've been trying to stay away from computerland. tough to stomach at first, really felt a draw to the luminous light of the screen in our home office. this time apart has been a healthy experience for me....and for Sean. poor boyf always seemed to get me on my last legs after i'd worked, ate, blogged and commented - there wasn't much left over so he'd kinda resigned himself to a muted me. i do feel brighter now and am so very, very grateful to everyone who wrote me personal notes and left such loving comments. THANK YOU ALL!

you've been incredibly understanding about my motion towards dropping the veil down a bit more to expose "things" - your uplifting and optimistic messages have been read over and over again. i've learned, once again, that life throws many curve balls our way...i'm glad to know we're all just trying to build the best catcher mitts in order to receive what's coming. wish i could arrange a hug sesh with each of you, please know if a bridge could be built allowing that to happen i'd be at the front of the line!! you've reassured me of something....

inspirational resources have never been so sought out, i seem to be on a mission to infuse any enlightening energy and have found a few real keepers along the way. one being the below video, it was made by a local (Vancouver) ideas company (ie: ad agency) called Rethink. they always creates killer branding and design; this vid is no exception. one encouraging message after another made in such a creatively expansive way. it's funny, moving and out of the box thinking got me "thinking" differently too. even though it's actually a call-for-entries to the Rethink Scholarship at a local College it has real impact showing that "we all have the tools to be creative — you just have to look around." wishing you all many bits of bliss ahead!!! ♥

Tim Etchells image via Basava

decisions, preferences and staying in the whelmed realm

2012-03-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

My parents used to tell me I lived in the Land of Fey - a kind of magical place where everything was possible and all dreams became realities. It wasn't something I ever thought about or questioned until it failed to exist. I used to pride myself on having a positive attitude, one that took no extra effort and seemed such a natural state of being. What has happened to me? Where did those hope filled eyes go? Life, lately, has been like 1 high and 5 lows...what a downer hey - that's not positive enforcement at all but it's an example of how my truth is being dampened. Friends, this is the hardest post I've written to date. I've put it off for a while now, partly because I love blogging so much and didn't want to let it go. As each month came I'd plan to write something honest about how I'm feeling and where I'm really at but kept sweeping those things under the carpet. A virtual land mine of trip-tastrophes has occurred so now I know it's time to begin working on myself after waiting for the right time to accept my road rash, it needs to be dealt with, no more distractions.

Once you start seeing yourself clearly, you can start healing yourself more sincerely.

Danielle LaPorte says:

"Ban "overwhelmed" from your vocabulary.

Refuse it entry to your psyche. You’re bigger than that.

Just be, you know, whelmed (this is best said with a Jewish, Brooklyn accent.)

Whelmed. Not at full capacity, rather, full of capacity.

Whelmed. Sounds full of potential, doesn’t it?"

Now doesn't that just make your low wattage turn bright! I love Danielle's writing, her spirit force and empowering ways are something I've been drawing from while dealing with "things".

I learned a long time ago that perspective is key, instead of asking myself to "make a decision" - "just choose dammit", I now ask "what is my preference?". That way I get the most honest answer coming straight from my soul. My answer, right now, is to go on a blog hiatus. I'm not sure what direction I'm going in but what I do know is that I'll be focusing on self-excavation and cracking open the metaphorical cloak I feel shrouded under.

Whether in blog-land or the real world we never actually know what's going on behind closed doors and that's okay. Privacy is massively respected; for me today though writing is such a great way to compartmentalize and reconcile my personal issues + challenges. A little bit of salve to sooth the wounds of life. I've read other bloggers candid shares and think "wow, i wish more people would take the time to look inside each other’s doors because there is always much more than meets the eye". If you've made it this far into my multitude of paragraphs then I extra thank you for taking the time to be here for me and would like to open my doors a bit more to you.

Lots of gals (and guys) have spoken about balance, whether this state is a myth or a reality, I feel like mine is teetering. Expressing the darkness inside is hard for me but let me start by explaining the core cause for its appearance. I'm quite a bit older than probably most of my readers. I'm 44. This isn't something I've shared until now but coming to terms just this year that Sean & I won't be able to have a baby of our own has been one of the hardest things I've gone through. Having a child with the man I love was about the biggest dream I could have dreamt. Realizing it won't happen is very surreal and has caused me to retreat and implode. Letting this dream go has uncovered many layers of pain. Pain from my past and the choices I made - should I have done it all differently? Pain from the reality of my chronological age and that I'm mortal, will die and won't have left any legacy behind - what is my purpose, why am I even here? Pain from feeling so much love inside that I'll never get to give - how can others who don't even appreciate it receive so much? oh, that last one gets me in the side like a knife, who am I to question others’ lives and judge them, who am I to get so self-focused I can't even take notice of someone who might need an extra touch on the arm. who am I?

This is what's wrong right now, I'm not even sure of myself anymore. It's a frustrating place to be. Thank goodness for Sean and all the unconditional love he gives me, he's my true champion and biggest supporter. I'm blessed to high heaven for him in my life and I've been truly blessed to have met so many wonderful friends through blogging. I believe the soul has eyes where it allows us to see things we liken to. For me, meeting such amazing girls that I've felt completely drawn towards has been mega inspiring, enlightening and a brilliant groove I've enjoyed to no end.

Friends, I appreciate you so much, your support does not go unnoticed!!! We'll see how the universe shows the way, praying is always a feel better place for me. Working my way out from beneath the proverbial boulder is what I'll be focusing on. Got some ideas in my sights and now it's time to start moving forward to meet them. I'll still be coming by to visit you guys and look forward to reading about your goings on and feeling your spark! I hope all your happiest moments leak blessings out in repetitive motion to the next ones. Thank you again and again for all the awesome loves...here I go now, off to the working on getting whelmed realm. xo ♥

* my apologies to those of you who could be slightly put off here today because going from seeing me dancing around in a shower (like my last post) to this rather heavy content is kinda a surprise and a sharp contrast. truth be told, i believe it's healthy to be open and not every day is coming up roses...i hope my real deals could also help to let whoever else is feeling on the wayside of life know they are not alone and nothing is insurmountable *

** someone who continually inspires me and was a catalyst to this post is Kristie Colón, she is a truth speaking/seeking warrior on her own path of amazing grace **

shower for an hour

2012-03-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

growing up, one of my most vivid memories was loud banging on the bathroom door followed by my Dad suggesting i might have just floated away down river since the water had been running for so long ; ) in all seriousness though, i DO love a loooooooooong shower sesh but it has got to be the right flow otherwise it's no fun to bask under the H2O element....know what i mean? does the man in your life threaten to shut off the water too??! well, the boyf doesn't completely get my passion for a power packed blast of aqua naturale nor does he need to, it's my thing and i'm sticking to it!

one thing Sean does like is research, he'll source you out the BEST anything after hours spent looking around the www in order to determine the exact item to fit your need. this time we DID need a new shower head - REAL BAD! ours had had the bun and after buying, testing and returning (YES, he is thorough!) countless models (3) we settled on the epitome of shower time bliss...

THE FLIPSIDE by Kohler

no kidding folks, this thing has revolutionized our shower experience so give me a break if i'm spouting (pun intended) off overtime about it. 4 different settings, each with its own adorable name like:

who could blame me for voicing my undying love! Kotton is our faved setting. life changing okay and also Kohler has some really slick advertising, dig this for example:

Jerry Seinfeld's infamous "low-flow" episode would be something you'd never have to go through again upon purchasing this baby. take my word for it, it's solid showering GOLD! ♥

* dress-up deets: lace detailed shirt-zara, cords-gap, shoes-tessa clogs, socks-hue, ring-? (similar) *

super shout out to Samuel Killermann for an amazing Saturday Night Live Host Bumper Headshot Tutorial!!! i'd been stumped about how these awesome images were created and thanks to him i was able to dabble in a 1st attempt myself. can't wait to try some varied effects soon too - yah! (by the way... this is the ONLY decent tutorial i could find for these types of renders, thank goodness for Samuel is all i can say!)

bay days

2012-03-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

those of us who live in Canada are familiar (i'd imagine) with the title of this posts term and when it's uttered we think SALE SALE SALE! well, honestly the Bay kinda lost its luster for a while to me. i was turned off with the items available and sorta disgruntled with the approach of the buyers but that has all changed now and i absolutely LOVE shopping there. um, the number 1 reason that i think a lot of you can relate to; they now have a section called TopShop and hey i couldn't be happier about it. finally it's come to CAN-CAN...that's a big RA-RA. but aside from that, i never really visited The Bay's website or related to their branding in a fashion-esque way. that was until their latest newsletter and clicking the links into image dazzler-land. just check out some of the photo shoots from 2012. it's color pops delight, not to mention such a handsome dude wearing leather. hells ya, i'm re-hooked, lined and sinker.

pretty pastels & chunky kicks via b-insider - in case you're a local this is The Hudson's Bay blog (Canada's leading department store) and it's got some beautiful fashion imagery featuring the latest lines they're carrying. ♥

image credits: group1, group2, group3, group4

special thanks to pugly pixel for amping me up with awesome ombre ideas and members perks!!! katrina, everyone should be so lucky as to have a friend like you...you're incredibly rad! xo

fly free

2012-03-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

new, fresh looks for spring are fluttering around the net and can make it very hard to turn the other way. swooning over a darling feathered friend emblazoned dress in Zara was no exception but i found myself unable to give it the cheek....twas a full blown kiss of LOVE! dainty sweetness is a self-restraint melter and so i ended up bringing the peter pan collared dress home. now it's been a bit of a struggle to figure out what to put on top of it while the weather is still ultra chill. here's a little idea montage of what i'm thinking could work....if you have any recs, send em' on over! Cee, Alex, Veronika...i'm kinda counting on you girls for input here - puuuleze! xo ♥

post layout elements via pugly pixel

image credits:
wedges:See by Chloe // socks:Hue as seen on B Insider
shining moment cardigan, rainy day romance cardigan, crystal cross ring, lark ring

sparkly steps

2012-03-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

* dress-up deets: dotted blouse + cardy-h&m, jeans + scarf (as belt)-gap, shoes-material girl (the bay),
socks-hue, fox ring-something monumental *

perhaps this little blog should have been called "sparkled girl" because boy do i ever have an obsesh for some glittery goodness!!! case in point: le brand spankin' new stompers by Material Girl. they were a great bargin and make my footsies ever so happy. KASA and i had a photo play date that was all kinds of fun - gotta say, lying around on my tummy while the boyf fiddled with camera settings wasn't so bad. 'specially when Mylo came by for the odd visit and nose rub.

it's been a tad rainy in these here parts and swamp-stepping was not in the cards so we shot indoors and kept it cozy/warm. you'll also notice another bit of swag, my darling fox ring from Mandy at Something Monumental literally does not come off until bedtime! well, this post is more or less a bunch of shimmery prompts leading into happy weekend wishes. hope you all are enjoying your double S bookend days!! given that i've spent the last week entrenched in whirly work i will be intentionally ruminative and subdued...at least that's what the plan is. Sean agrees, hang sesh's on the sofa is where it's at!!! cheers all. ♥

extra extra

2012-02-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

hoping for today to FLY BY because TONIGHT we're heading to the fabulous Vogue Theatre to see Pecha Kucha Vol.20: All-Stars and i literally am vibrating from anticipation. thirteen deliciously amazing presenters in the line-up; they range from some of Vancouver's finest architecture and design firms to preeminent artists, chefs and writers but the be-all and end-all for me is "self-realization rocks" queen and outstanding champion of feminine power surges... Danielle LaPorte. i've been reading Danielle's blog for years and have spotted her around Vancouver once or twice but shied away from reaching out to say "hey, i'm really not a stalker but i adore every single moment spent around your extremely arousing aura!" oh YES, she's a powerhouse of 100 watt shocks into the life you'd (i'd) ideally like to be living. no bullshit, EVER - this lady ignites sparkling prose like no other. she'll be rockin' the mic tonight and there i'll be....edge of my seat soaking in each and every word with great fervor. ♥

thanks to katrina - AGAIN SO AWESOME - for her new creation of attention circles. get yours at pugly pixel, where all the goodness in the universe thrives in her stellar design sector of the internet. xo

by the by, it's pronounced "peh-chach-ka" and the name comes from a Japanese term for the sound of conversation - like “chit-chat” in English.

techy talk

2012-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

⁂ an added bonus to all you fellow screen capturers out there - do yourself a favor and download a sweet software tool i recently discovered (thanks Sean!!!) called Greenshot. you won't be sorry, this little grab gadget is my latest fave for collecting otherwise un-savable images from the web. it's way better than "print screen" and has a few extra bells and whistles that are really cool too. like drop shadowed captions to illustrate certain points of interest.

check out my sample below (a teaser for something coming up later this week featuring my new sparkle shoes) and tell me you don't want to have easy access keepsakes from the next Flash based site you come across....just try and say no. simply put - it's like taking a picture of anything you want from a webpage; capture a specific region or the whole window. it's an excellent addition to a techy's bag o' tricks!!! ♥

all sorts

2012-02-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

ahhh, the beginnings of a new week...
hope yours is gonna be awesome! ♥

* fun "stuff" from Our Shop: crystal-shaped crayons - sailboat salt and pepper shakers - spotty vintage jug and glasses set - vintage storage jars

* mag_net_ic earrings by Akiko Oue look like more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

* Boguslaw Sliwinski's series of playful plates featuring a transportation theme.

* pretty pastel colors for spring

* mini wooden speaker for Apple devices - SO CUTE!

* a very WOW moment brought to us by Hermes via The Fancy

* 'spread your love' by Hamed Kohan - steals my heart and then some!

* tent-tastical pop-ups that could even convince me to try camping again

collectibles

2012-02-25T01:10:00.000-08:00

some people are mesmerized with the World of Warcraft and others get hotfixed on assorted obscure designers fresh from the latest runway show but not little ol' me..... i'm a retro/vintage lover for life. milk pour for the homies and all!!! this is why a particular Etsy shop called BrideBlu has my usually casual saunter dancing like a feather in the wind. i'm pretty sure a bunch of you already know Cat and have pointed your love arrows her way many times before. BrideBlu's blog and everything she touches is a total treasure map leading through currently sought after trends, color coded themes and a bevy of outstanding personal style diy's. Cat's a charmer for sure and ever since i won a giveaway she had a while back i've been blowing a potent wish mist over my dolla bills ya'all. IT WORKED!

not too long ago i visited the mail box to discover 3 darling boxes had arrived, each tied with ribbon. the first 2 were presents to myself ; ) and the other is a curled up kitteh brooch for my girlfriend Jane. channeling control over a potential internet shopping sesh of max proportions was tough but i zoned into a jaunty giraffe charm necklace and vintage fawn brooch. how fun it is to accessorize outfits with them; jewelry that matches the mood which happens to be of the sugary burst variety whenever they are near!!!

thanks for everything Cat, i'll for sure be casing the joint again soon! if you all want to get a head start on me there's some really cool finds like the DOT YOUR I's vintage black + white bow brooch or equally splendid TULIPS vintage yellow tulip post earrings. more awesome attractions coming soon i'm sure. ♥

pretty preen

2012-02-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

by definition PREEN means:

a. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill. UM, NOT SO MUCH!
b. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do. PASS - WAIT FOR IT....
c. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp. MMM, HMMM AGREED!!!
d. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself). YES AND MORE YES.

As designers, Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi have accomplished mounds full of beautiful notions and together formed Preen, one of London's acclaimed lines featuring cutting edge creations and totally coveted wears. Their star studded client roster grows long and so does their successful collection of clothing. Since debuting in 2001 Preen has been a solid highlight among the reigning champions of marketable wears. I personally take imagination breaks in order to invent visual stories within my own mind as a way of getting fashionably fixed up for a night on the town! ♥

images via trend hype

a vase and its friends

2012-02-22T07:11:00.001-08:00

I haven't exactly been on track with sending out a visual form of thanks to Lisa from a piece of Lisa. Yes friends, I'm ashamed to say I let time move along and haven't sung the definitely due praises because I won a giveaway a loooong while back. It was something I'd never expected but came as a complete jump for joy when she told me I'd won!!! I've been a staunch admirer of Lisa's blog for a long time and adore her art/illustration work. At 1st sight I thought this darling vase might have even been designed by her too but it was something her lovely Mum picked out while on travels (by boat!) in Sweden, it's designed and hand painted by Swedish artist Marika Beutler.

My eyes lit up like 100 watt styles when it actually arrived and I couldn't rep it any better than what I'd already written to Lisa and her Mum when I found out the news. "the coolest thing about this is that it was chosen by your mother, for me that's extra rad b/c when my mom picks things out for me they are always such special centerpieces in our home. to have an actual "piece of Lisa" & her wonderful mum is something i will always treasure and look at over and over again with much adoration."

So, all in all, this ~~might be~~ is late in coming but thank you again Lisa! The vase is so unique and a grand accent piece in our home. xo ♥

i heart something monumental

2012-02-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

quite simply, internet shopping is the most convenient way to get my inner jubilee jump started. one such shop i visit on the regs is Something Monumental and friends...just so you know, i've written about my meaningful heart throbs for Mandy's various spaces before. she's got a lot going on, what with an Etsy shop, her blog and flickr all moving along simultaneously. how the girl keeps it all stacked full of stylistic breadth i'll never know but still can't help myself from forever peering into her world for photographic insp, creative insights and daily discoveries about what's fresh and new from her seriously sensational perspective.

for xmas i was trying to come up with the perfect gift for my gf, Christine, who is extremely tough to buy for. i remembered how C was raving about the feather rings i'd bought from Mandy a while back and decided to e-boutique another score via Something Monumental. SUCCESS! she loved them, i chose the grey and brown leather with corresponding metal feathers - nice and neutral. then i saw IT!!!!!!!!! little orange fox friend, irresistible and practically calling my name. a new Mandy original to keep forever plus some really awesome extras she sent along too. i ADORE this girl!!!!

but okay folks, you've seen nothing yet because Mandy is always coming up with new and completely darling creations....such as little matryoshka doll or a couple set for you and yours to make matchy-matchy with. then there's a plushy elephant toy that i'm ALL about. can't help bigging up "each and every" she produces, be sure to have a visit yourself - failsafe coolness ooze is what! thanks for everything Mandy!!! xo ♥

my own version of the cool crafty speech bubble signs via Sarah (pronounced SAH-RAH) as seen on Martha Stewart

encore

2012-02-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Cypress Mountain repeat performance - since it was so much fun the last time we decided to scoop Mom up and return once more for snow day surprises and some yummy nosh. funnily enough, my Mom had never even been up there before so it was extra thrilling to take her on a day trip. i honestly can't get over how gorgeous our city scape is from the various look-out points along the way, Vancouver is something to see...no wonder we have flocks of birds flying around all over the place, they really have the best view!

cheers to a weekend that takes you UP to new heights, wishing everyone all kinds of glimmery goodness!!! ♥

x & o

2012-02-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!!!!!!!! KASA and i have been rushing around so much lately and have some deadlines to meet so our card exchanges/intertwined arm toasts and sharing food with the same fork will have to wait a while longer. we've okayed it with the bow and the arrow that our own V-day celebrations will just have to get postponed till the weekend - anyone else in the same boat? i feel kinda traitor-ish but this couldn't be helped. i'm even posting pics from last Valentines to try and save face ; ) conciliation prize: the BEST man i know loves me, for this i am eternally grateful and my love for him will be gushing all over the place once this week gets leapfrogged!!!!

i'd also like to send a BIG hug and kiss over to Ashlyn from Matchless Vision today because she graciously asked me to be a part of a project she's working on, a really meaningful arrangement in tribute to a great cause.

i wasn't familiar with the term Mesothelioma and what it meant - thanks to Ashlyn and Jackie Clark of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for people with mesothelioma cancer; i got educated and researched it further to find an array of awful ramifications people have had from exposure to asbestos. the horror of 1st hand experience with various forms of other cancers lingers quite relevantly in my life; another reason why this invitation represents something close to my heart and why i took part without question. i had a cervical surgery years ago because of abnormal cell growth they felt would be cause for cancer alarms and my mom has survived lung cancer while my dad passed away from leukemia. the only response given to these great girls was "i'm on board 100% to support you & Jackie with this very little part i could play."

Ashlyn and Jackie have teamed up and in their words: "put together a blog post about women facing cancer and how it is important for them to still take the time to do what makes them feel beautiful, whatever that may be." they asked me to write something about what makes me feel beautiful and loved. i hope you'll have a visit and read more about this project, its goals and the inspirational shares from others too.

many blessings friends, this is a day of LOVE (even if it has been overplayed with cheese sometimes) and it still has a sentimental aura exposing inner workings of the heart. may yours beat with extended play and a rhythm that exudes the happiest joy! ♥

images via (clockwise from top left) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
* apologies, i usually link back to every photo used but this was from a long ago save and now the link back to pinterest is inactive. if anyone knows who properly receives credit for the shadow hand image please let me know. i photo manipulated it some but you get the drift if you recognize it. thanks *

blowing kisses

2012-02-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

in a lot of different but truly lovely directions! here's a few of my favorite glimpses recently, of course they are all inspired by Valentines Day and the impending arrival of Monsieur Cupido!!!! ♥

ideally i'd like to be twirling around in this lovely frock of delight! just barely clinging to KASA's finger as i continue to rotate...always coming back to his handsome face for little kiss breaks.

dress you up in my LOVE is what i believe was cake.'s idea behind this decadent and drool worthy shoot featuring metallic gold cupcake papers, handmade glittered flags and filigree lettering. you'll wanna save those recipes people, lickety split. // butterfly flounce robe via Toute la Nuit // giclee LOVE print via Jessie Ford Design // Typocolate is Gourmet Typographic, Dark & Milk Chocolate Slabs. yum delum!! and another discovery charm about Dynamo is, as they say: "We're a digital design studio located in a cool corner of Montréal where it's hard to find a parking spot." gotta love innovative designers seeking to serve up sweet confections too, right?

pink gradient brooch via bstudio // rose gold plated My Love Ring via melt'm design studio // funny Valentine via The Hungry Workshop // retro inspired, handmade pretties like the "Love" glasses case + pink polka dots coin purse via the zakka would be quite a lovely addition to anyone’s "what's in my bag?" post // “Love” Letters via Roll &Tumble Press - kinda just got inspired to print some of my own to tack up on the wall! so cute // Anthony Petrie created a couple Valentine's cards that any self-professed geek would be proud to hand out. get yours for FREE download here.

Pull & Bear added the JUST LOVE collection to their shop and it features six limited edition t-shirts celebrating Valentine's Day - touting that "some couples are inseparable". let the twinanigans begin.